This study examined vicarious trauma effects in male and female clinicians who treat sexual abuse survivors (n = 111) and sexual offenders (n = 272). The national survey was conducted using a random sample of clinical members of two professional organizations. Analyses tested the relationships between demographic variables, maltreatment history,…

Although group therapy for abused and neglected youth is a viable and efficacious treatment option, facilitation is challenging. Group leaders must contain intense affect, manage multiple transferences, and advocate for their clients within the larger social welfare system. Using a case study of a group for sexually abused girls, this paper…

Because increased need for child protective services exceeded the Texas Department of Human Services' capacity for timely response, a 2-year Case Decision Project was implemented with the aim of applying automation to parts of the case investigation process. The project produced a Case Investigation Decision Support System with two sections: a…

ISFAR (Intensive Services to Families at Risk Project), a program designed to prevent foster care among children at risk for placement because of documented or suspected abuse or neglect, is described, and its effectiveness evaluated. ISFAR's staffing patterns, guiding philosophy of helping parents become more adequate in their interaction with…

Sexual assault victims (N=1059) under age 17 were evaluated. Among findings were that 89 percent were female; that average age was 8.3 years; that Black children were 1.58 times and Latin children 0.22 times as likely to be victims; and that 58.1 percent of the perpetrators were known to the child but were not family members. (Author/DB)

In this report, the Child Welfare Project (CWP) of the Office of the Public Advocate examines New York City's child welfare social services infrastructure and the family court. It is based on child fatality reports for the year 2000 submitted to the Office of the Public Advocate by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services; child…

Thirteen evaluations of programs to prevent child abuse and neglect are reviewed. The evaluations were characterized by careful attention to methodologic detail but lacked definitions of abuse or neglect. Important topics are omitted, such as the consequences and costs of medical neglect. (Author/JDD)

An interim set of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing guidelines for victims of pediatric sexual abuse (PSA) is proposed. Guidelines are based on responses of 63 practitioners of PSA assessment to 7 hypothetical clinical profiles with 12 testing criteria. (Author/DB)

A study examined the responses of 89 physical child abusers and 108 comparison subjects to the Child Abuse Potential Inventory to determine whether the inventory's response inconsistency scale could be used for screening for physical child abuse. The scale was rejected as a reliable or valid measure. (Author/MSE)

A study investigated the influences of response rate, ordering of questions, and definition of child sexual abuse on the results of a survey of college students' childhood and adolescent sexual experiences. The results are analyzed and the importance of awareness of methodological issues in research is emphasized. (MSE)

This paper operationally defines a set of indicators for the decision to separate the child and family in child abuse cases. Application of the indicators to 152 cases of suspected child abuse in Australia found that severity of abuse, parenting, and the family social system were most predictive of a final separation outcome. (Author/DB)

Review of 155 confirmed cases of child sexual abuse in New South Wales (Australia) showed that only 56 percent received any counseling despite policy guidelines encouraging counseling. The study identified problems at all levels within the interagency environment that resulted in children not receiving needed services. Needed changes in the…

In study to determine whether educational campaign about dangers of shaking babies could influence parental knowledge and would be considered helpful by new parents, 15,708 parents of newborns received information packets; 3,293 parents responded. More than 75 percent said information was helpful, and 49 percent said they were less likely to shake…

Discusses shortcomings in research on child maltreatment, including a lack of sensitive differentiation across types of child maltreatment, and a lack of attention to differences resulting from perpetrator gender. Provides corrective recommendations and describes a new approach that enhances research sensitivity. (MM)

The education and legal literatures disclose significant disincentives for compliance with mandatory child abuse reporting laws. Although evidence indicates that school personnel understand their legal obligations and recognize signals of child abuse, they consistently underreport abuse occurring in home settings and are seldom held accountable.…